Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1887-08-26
GGOTg1a'S Tragedy.
TOM VOOLFOLK, THE SLAYER OF
ALL HIS RELATIVES, MAKES
A CONFESSION.


mitted women and children live in
mortal fear that the monster may
escape and wreak vengeance on
those who have pronounced him
guilty.
The case against the prisoner
has developed by piecemeal. 1t
was impossible at first to get full
story, owing to the fact that every
inmate of the WoolfOrk mansion,
save Tom, was dead. There could
be but two theories at 6rst-the
one a desire to get the property,
the other a baser purpose Oh one
of the members of the family.
That he hated his step-mOther was
always known, and that he carried
erotic drugs was also known. 1t
is now well.established, however,
that a desire to inherit the property
was the cause which led to the
murder.
The first link of the tragedy
fastening the crime upon Tom is
now furnished by a cOlored woman,
who was around the house on the
evening Of the murder, but who
did not make that fact known the
next day. Tom had ridden Mrs.
Woolfolk's horse to BOlingbrOke,
and was chIdden therefor. On
entering the parlor that night he
found his half.sister, Pearl, sitting
at the piano. "Stop your thump'
ing and scratching on that piano."
said he; Kit belonged to my
mother" That night, near II
o'clock, the colored woman, who
lived some distance away, having
a sick child, ran up to the mansion
to get some medicine from Mrs.
Voolfolk. She was surprised to
find Tom in the font of the house.
He ordered her to leave at once,
which she did. Within the next
two hours the murders were COM
mitted. When being conveyed to
Atlanta, Tom began talking about
the property being all his now
During his first week in Jail his
sole conversation has been about
his property. He sent for several
attorneys, promising them big fees
ont of the property, but they de-
clined. To-day Mr.. Frank Z.
Walker consented to take the case,
but solely for humane motives, as
he declared that Voolfolk was
entitled to the benefit of competent
defense. 81 think it would be
shameful for Voolfolk to go to
trial for his life with no prepara-
ton. having to depend upon a
lawyer appointed by the court"
said WoolfOlk's attorney, "and
whether he is guilty or not, Justice
should be given him."
Mr.. Walker was with Voolfolk
for two hours tins morning, and
after the long interview with his
client, he said 81 hardly wish to
talk of the case yet-that is, Of
what Voolfolk has said to me. |
have no objection to giving you the
theory OF the defense, however. l
shall prove, first and above all,
that Thomas Voolfolk is insane /;
that, rational as he may appear at
times. and on some subjects, he is
a m0nomaniac, devoid OF all reason
when 1t comes to weighing right
and wrong, good and evil, and he
is no more responsible for dyeing
his hand in human blood than is
the lion of the jungles or The mad
dog. Admitting that he had Kill
ed his whole family to gain posses
sion of the property of his father,
why, if he had been sane man,
the last thing on earth he would
have spoken of would have been
that property-the motive for the
crime. AS you know, he has talk
ed Of nothing else. But | have a
theory that WOOltolks confession
TO me about certain family matters
that have never been made public
I do not intend to make them pub
lie quite yet. And | have a state
ment from the prisoner which, u
true, will place the murder on 9th
er parties. Voolfolk has glver
me uames of persons whom h'
thinks committed the wholesale
, murder, and has given a cham o
evidence which makes his story
f plausible one to my mind. The man
, is crazy, and the horrible crime 81
greatly shocked his mind, made
weak from dissipation, that he die
a not know what he was dong, ant
, did not care. Then, it may be salt
that Voolfolk was used as too
, by those who knew of his veal
a mental condition, and the name
he has given me may be those o
his allies. | will have most care
tai examination made, and follo'
closely every clew gwen by m,
Q client
. Voolfolk continues to eat am
4. sleep we'll. lie rctires at night on
| pile of blankets, hanging in his cell
D Every morning at 6 o'clock Woo
s folk is turned ont of his cell int
the corridor and allowed to exercis
himself one hour; but he takes hi
woIl alonp aS M nrisOnpF iSallOwe